I think software should make life easier — heck, that’s why it’s made (at least that was the original intention…it’s easy to become sidetracked like this aside is doing right now). 

But here’s one thing I’ve realized about email: it’s too easy.

As a senior at Wake Forest, I inevitably get stuff from professors and administrators about classes, graduation, etc., + whatever I get from listservs to which I’ve subscribed (or been involuntarily subscribed). 

This means I’ll inevitably get from 30 to 60 emails in a day…most about nothing or about things barely related to my direct interests.  So what inevitably happens is that the real meat — the real, hard stuff that I really want to read — gets lost in the shuffle.

I guess I should be happy that I’m so popular (haha) — I mean, heck, I could get NO emails and have my email account be a waste of hard drive space. 

Central Desktop’s blog (via SvN) has a few observations about email that make sense.  To summarize:

1. Email is easy to understand
2. Email is universal
3. Email is accessible from anywhere
4. Email can be personalized
5. Email is manageable/configurable
6. Email is searchable
7. Email is in your face
8. Email just works
9. …and my personal addition…Email is an ego-booster

For my generation…and I think for anyone using email in particular…email is flattery.  Getting something addressed to YOU stirs up a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. 

This, in addition to the fact that there is really zero cost to sending emails, brings some understanding to the fact that 62 billion emails are sent a day. 

So what’s my point?  If you’re “shooting an email” just for the heck of it, why not pick up the phone instead?  It’s more personal…and you get to use your voice, too — which is becoming less and less common these days.